Printing Device Medium Information Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing communication systems, the recording medium is often not held by the communication device when medium information is transmitted, leading to incomplete print setting options for users, which deteriorates usability.

Innovation Solution

A communication system where the terminal device and communication device exchange medium information, allowing the communication device to detect and transmit information about the recording medium, enabling users to select appropriate print settings based on the medium held by the device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the communication device transmits medium information only when the recording medium is currently held in the device, then the transmitted information is accurate to the current state, but the user cannot select print settings for media that are not currently held, deteriorating usability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of medium information transmissionVSAvoidusability of print setting selection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs preliminary acquisition of medium information from the communication device's storage before the user needs to make print settings. This allows the terminal device to have medium information ready in advance, enabling the user to select from available media types even if they are not currently held in the communication device, thus improving usability while maintaining information accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the communication device stores medium information in its storage unit, then the information can be transmitted even when the medium is not currently held, but the device requires additional storage capacity and memory management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavailability of medium informationVSAvoidstorage and memory management requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication device creates a copy of the medium information (such as medium type, size, and format details) and stores it in its storage unit. This copy contains all necessary parameters for print setting selection without requiring the physical medium to be present. The storage unit holds this informational copy, enabling transmission to the terminal device and allowing users to select appropriate print settings without the actual medium being held, thus improving availability while managing storage efficiently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4095620B1Printing device, method for controlling the same, and program
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 CANON KK
  • EP4095620B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4095620B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4095620B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A printing device (120) comprising: a first holding unit (127) configured to hold a first recording medium (400) that is disk-like and capable of storing information; a second holding unit (126) configured to hold a second recording medium that is different from the first recording medium; and at least one processor (121), wherein the at least one processor performs operations comprising: performing printing on the first recording medium or the second recording medium based on a print job received from a terminal device (110), in a case that a first error regarding at least one of the first holding unit and the first recording medium occurs in the printing device after receiving the print job, not performing processing for causing the terminal device to perform notification regarding the first error, and in a case that a second error that is different from the first error occurs in the printing device after receiving the print job, performing processing for causing the terminal device to perform notification regarding the second error.